Queen's Library offers an all-library book retrieval service, where students, faculty and staff can request that material on the shelf in one campus Library be sent to another campus Library for pickup by the requestor.

How to Make a Book Retrieval Request

1. Search for the desired book in the QCAT Library Catalogue.
2. Click Make a Request.
3. You will be asked to log in to QCAT.
4. Select Request CAMPUS BOOK RETRIEVAL and complete the form.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is eligible to use the Book Retrieval service?
• How do I place a request?
• Are there restrictions on the materials which can be requested?
• Is there a limit on the number of items I can request?
• What is the turn-around time for a request?
• How will I know when my book has been retrieved?
• Where do I pick up my book? How long will it be held for me?
• When -- and why -- did this service start?

Who is eligible to use the Book Retrieval service?

All Queen's students, faculty and staff may use the service.

Are there restrictions on the materials which can be requested?

Excluded from the Book Retrieval Service are the following categories of material:

• Education textbooks
• Government documents
• Journals
• Maps
• Reference materials
• Reserve items
• Videos, DVDs, CDs and other non-book items
• Any other non-circulating items

In addition, not available for book retrieval are:

• Any items which already are signed out, on hold, or in the queue for another book retrieval request.
• Any item whose "home library" is the same location as the Pickup Location you selected when placing the book retrieval request.

Please note: Although the Book Retrieval Request form will allow you to select the "home library" of an item as its Pickup Location, Library staff will automatically cancel this kind of request. The Campus Book Retrieval Service is intended to provide Queen's patrons with an intra-campus delivery service; it is not an in-stack hold service.

Is there a limit on the number of items I can request?

You may have a maximum of 5 active book retrieval requests at one time.

What is the turn-around time for a request?

Library staff will endeavor to retrieve, process and ship items within 3-5 days (excluding weekends and holidays).

How will I know when my book is ready to be picked up?

The onus is on you, the requestor, to regularly log in to your QCAT account to view the status of your requests. Your QCAT "patron record screen" will indicate when, and where, requested items are available for pickup.

Where do I get my book? How long will it be held for me?

All materials must be picked up at the Circulation Desk of the Pickup Library you specified when you placed the request. Items will be held for 5 days, after which time they will be sent back to their "home" library. Be sure to check the Library Hours before going to collect your item(s)!

When -- and why -- did this service start?

A book retrieval service between the Education Library (at West Campus) and Stauffer Library (on the main campus) began September 5, 2000. In Fall 2003, Queen's Library's Access Services Functional Team recommended that the service be extended to include all campus libraries. A working group subsequently was established to determine and test best practices and policies, and train Library circulation staff. The new, extended service was launched on 30 June 2004.

Questions? Need help?

• Queen's Library Circulation Desk